by Diana Micu
Intro for my Writing: An Explanation of the Poems and Their Contexts
The sample I am introducing in this issue is not very big; as a matter of fact they are only three meager poems; the only poems I have ever written. I will be the first to say that I was never much of a fan of poetry and to this day do not find it to be anything special. However, when I see how an author can master word-play and use simple phrases to create the most beautiful masterpieces I have ever read, it speaks to me on more volumes than I can voice. To me, poetry is not about intent or structure or double meanings, it is a form of art which uses words to depict an unseen beauty in the world. These poems have all been inspired by something important in my life and I want them to be a gleam of encouragement to those who believe they cannot write or do not have the talent to do it.
The first two poems are inspired by the events of the Holocaust during WWII. I like to laugh about them because I actually wrote them when I was in 8th Grade. Our English class was studying the Holocaust and the symbolism of butterflies in the camps. They were able to fly around freely and the Jewish population who were enslaved in the camps noticed their freedom. The children occupied their minds by studying their beauty and longing for the day they will one day be set free again. As a creative writing assignment, my teacher allowed me to write a poem to reflect the voices of these children and people and so the reason I have two versions is because we simply could not decide which one we liked better. I have changed a couple words around, but as a whole, they both have remained unchanged because I want these poems to demonstrate that writing comes from the heart and not intellect.
The second poem I recently wrote these past couple weeks in honor of a cousin of mine. He was in a horrific car crash in October which put him in a coma with severe brain injuries for over eight weeks (he’s actually still in the process of waking up right now). No one knows what happened or how it happened, but we’re all just so thankful he’s alive. The doctors gave him no chance of survival and every day he proves them wrong with new improvements in his comprehension, strength, and perseverance. I wrote this poem during a time when I didn’t know what to think about the whole situation or what would come out of it and I was scared. I felt a need to be the comforter in our family and just didn’t know how to do it; I felt so helpless. My heart knew everything will turn out okay, but I could never explain it and the uncertainty, the mystery of it all, frightened me. However, as a family based on faith, we solely relied on God to heal him and every new movement he makes is a testament of God’s faithfulness to us. The whole situation has drawn the attention of thousands of people around the world and has been serving as a wake-up call for many people who’ve lost sight of what’s really important in life. This work is a reflection of my own personal wake-up call.
***
Hope
Before this life
I hardly noticed you.
Before this loneliness,
You were a beauty ignored.
Now I see you so radiant and free,
flying through the camp so innocently.
I suddenly feel alive,
my depression is gone.
My joy is restored,
in the dusk of the dawn.
You brought me new hope,
to replace the fading one.
Why are these camps,
so terrible and poor?
Can’t I be like you,
just spread my wings and soar?
To me,
life was not worth living,
but then you came along.
I never noticed you before,
and now I see that was wrong.
You brought back a sign of life,
and a name that will never change.
Can you guess what it is?
It’s at the top of the page.
***
The Glory of the Unseen
Before this life
I hardly noticed you.
Before this loneliness,
You were a beauty ignored.
Now I see you so radiant and free,
flying through the camp so innocently.
I suddenly feel alive,
my depression is gone.
My joy is restored,
in the dusk of the dawn.
You brought me new hope,
which I cannot explain.
Why do these camps,
have to be so inhumane?
Can’t I be like you,
just spread my wings and soar?
I see no other butterflies,
aren’t there anymore?
To me life is now dead,
but as you come along,
You bring back a memory,
and an inspiration that will push me on.